Canaan applies for
resource officer grant

Canaan Community Academy could have a resource officer patrolling campus in the future.

Canaan's school board voted unanimously to pursue the state's School Safety Grant, a matching grant that can be used to pay the salary of a school resource officer, or security equipment for a school.

The deadline to apply is the end of the month.

Tara Hayes, chief operating officer at the charter school, said she has thought about becoming the school's resource officer. To sign up for the position, Hayes would have to go through training to become a reserve police officer.

Hayes said the grant could be used for new security cameras around the school or a new security system for the main entrance.

Chief Academic Officer Deena Schafer reported to the board that a new smart board has been installed in the special education classroom and that iPads have been bought for the staff.

"We plan to eventually get them in the hands of the students as well," Schafer said.

Schafer also announced that a swing set memorial was being constructed in honor of Amanda Kendall Vest, a former student who passed away over the summer.

The yellow swing set - Vest's favorite color - was paid for by the Amanda Kendall Vest Memorial Fund established by Vest's family.